That was it!

Juliana's POV

“What did you say?!” I groped for my bed and slowly sat down. The news he broke poured like hot water on me, and my knees went limp like soggy noodles.

“You know I don’t like repeating myself.”

“But are you sure it was them?” I asked again. My hands shook so much that I almost dropped my phone.

“Uh, huh. Some hopheads might’ve been high on an illegal substance, and they were unfortunate to be victimized. Their bodies were in a mess when a group of joggers found them.”

“Unlucky them. I’m not saying they deserve it, though.”

“Anyway, talk to you soon. I only called to ask how you’re doing and to let you know what happened to them, in case you still care.”

“Thanks for asking. And don’t worry, I don’t care.” I ended the call and slammed my back on the bed.

My ex-boyfriend and the traitor… both were found murdered heinously. Their bodies were torn from the throat down to their stomachs, with entrails dangling out as if whoever killed them was rummaging through something inside their bloated bellies. Bloated because the disingenuous gal was five months pregnant while the deceitful guy was chubby.

I took my diary out and wrote about the news I received, waiting for ideas to come to life. But then my mind’s eye replayed the sight from last night. Without finishing the account, I went to the kitchen. There I saw Ate Maribel happily chatting with Nana. The aroma of the sautéed mushrooms she was cooking was so hypnotizing that I forgot why I went there.

“This will be ready in three minutes,” she said, smiling at me. Her eyes, though tantalizing, were really enigmatic.

“Can we talk after breakfast, Ate?” I asked. My serious face surely got her, for her smile faded in an instant.

“Sure.”

                                                                                         **

We watched Nana tend her flowers as we sat under the mango tree in our front yard.

“My ex and his girlfriend were found unalived last night,” I began. I looked straight into her eyes, and I was surprised. She was also looking straight at me, unlike the time when we reunited.

“Oh, should I be sorry for what happened to those pieces of trash?” Her tone was innocent, yet sarcastic and defensive.

“No. Unless you know how they ended up in an open place where people could easily find them.”

She drew her face closer to mine. Close enough for me to have a look into her deep-set eyes.

“What do you see in my eyes?” she asked, never blinking. "I knew that you knew the first time we met again."

“M-my reflection. It’s inverted.”

She put her index finger to her lips, gesturing for me not to speak too loudly. And she looked at Nana. She didn’t want her to hear us.

“I know you’ll discover sooner or later, so I decided to come clean. You have even been tailing me for several nights now.”

Then she told me everything that happened to her when she was abducted. My eyes welled, sharing her pain, struggles, and how she had to endure her painful transformation every full moon. She told me, in detail, how she would stop herself from consuming humans and relied on animals in the forests instead. All those she endured only to keep us safe.

“I accepted my fate so that they wouldn’t touch even a single strand of your hair.” She wiped her tears, worried Nana might think that we were arguing. “Nana is old now. She would soon be a target for other relentless, unforgiving, and hungry monsters. That’s why I came home. Well, I didn’t leave or abandon you. I’m always watching you and Nana from afar, making sure you’re both safe.”

I couldn’t find the words to respond. I just let my tears speak for me.

“And those trash who died last night? I have done nothing to them. Well, I played a little part, but I wasn’t the one who feasted on them.” She wiped my tears away before speaking again. “Remember the friend I told you about? She took care of them. I only tracked the prey for her.”

I was even speechless.

“I returned because I want to protect you. My relatives will help protect you and Nana.”

“But you just said that they’ll harm us. Is that why you have to become like them?”

“Of course, they won’t do it now. I’ve already done what they wanted. You are my family. And weird as you might think, aswang clans value their families, too. They protect their family with their lives. If someone mistreats a family member, the entire clan avenges them.”

Then, she took a tiny bottle from her pocket.

“Sooner or later, Nana might leave us, so I want to be prepared. I may not always be by your side to protect you as well. That’s why, whether you like it or not, I’m slowly making you a part of my clan. Don’t worry, I only use this on your food.”

I swallowed my fear when I realized what the bottle was. It was a weird oil—the oil from my research—the oil that could turn humans into an aswang in the process they called yanggaw. She had been feeding me food that she contaminated with their form of elixir. That explained why I began to detest salty foods, especially the dishes seasoned with salt and garlic.

“Have you even asked if I like to be like you?” I hissed when anger began to kick in. I was trying to control my voice.

“I don’t need you to agree. I want you to learn self-defense.”

“Am I really a weakling to you?”

“Don’t take it as an insult. Consider this a valuable lesson learned. "The time will come when I won’t be able to return to you; no one will protect you if that happens. I want you to be strong and not be someone else’s douchebag, both physically and emotionally.”

My shoulders dropped. I didn’t have the energy to argue anymore. That was it! I just shook my head, trying to clear my head with the realization that one day my nights would never be the same.

                                                                        *** THE END ***